Southern California -- this just in

After officer's death, bar at L.A. Police Academy to be closed on 'payday Wednesdays'

December 17, 2009 | 11:03
am

The bar at the Los Angeles Police Academy will be shut down on paydays, officials said today, after an officer who had been drinking there was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Officer Kenneth Aragon was killed Dec. 3 after drinking earlier in the day at the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club with other officers on “payday Wednesday." Up to now, the bar had been open on those days LAPD officers received their bimonthly paychecks.

"It's the responsible thing to do," said LAPD Deputy Chief Pat Gannon, a five-year member of the board that oversees the revolver and athletic club.

The closures are intended to avoid a repeat of the circumstances that led to Aragon's death and will begin next month when an independent food and beverage operator assumes management of the banquet room.

LAPD Cmdr. David Doan told The Times last week that Aragon’s blood-alcohol level was “well over” the legal limit.